w 
 
Behold, when sheared, and of its robe bereft. 
 How meek, how patient, the mild creature stands! 
 
THE 
 
 COTTAGE GARDEN; 
 
 OR THE 
 
 INFANT TUTOR. 
 
 A MORAL AND ENTERTAIN IN* 
 
 TALE, 
 
 FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED AND SOLD BY 
 
 Dean and Munday, 35, Tfireadneedle Street* 
 
 PRICE THREE PEN6K. 
 
r 
 
 1 
 
The Cottage Garden. 
 
 In a small village, far remote from the 
 busy city of London, lived an honest 
 homely pair, who earned their bread by 
 daily toil. They had three children, two 
 hoys and one girl, Charles, Joseph, and 
 Maria; thev all went to a small day 
 school, that was kept by a poor, but 
 worthy widow woman, near the cottage 
 where their parents resided. 
 
 These poor people found it a very 
 hard task to spare the money to pay the 
 school-mistress for the care of the end- 
 'S&iM, b3 . :*'••:• ' M 
 
6 
 
 THE COTTAGE 
 
 dren, yet they justly thought it to be 
 their duty to have them taught to read 
 and write, and whatever was necessary 
 for their making their way in the world 
 in an honest reputable manner; for it 
 surely is a great service to be able to 
 write your letters, and keep accounts, 
 and read good books. Learning may 
 properly be called a fortune, and I hope 
 my little readers may set a just value on 
 what I say, and think they can never 
 learn too much, and that it is better to 
 spend your hours in the attainment of 
 useful improvements, than in rude games 
 of play, or running v about the street, as 
 too frequently is the case. Not but it is 
 proper for children to have their hours 
 of exercise and amusement, but it ought 
 to be in moderation ; for, as it says in 
 the^ioly scriptures, there is a time and a 
 season for every thing under heaven. 
 
 To return to the story of our cottage 
 family, with whom I dare say my young 
 
GARDEN 
 
 7 
 
 readers are eager to make acquaintance, 
 Charles was seven years of age, Joseph 
 four, and their sister Maria only two. 
 
 The eldest iov thought it enough, and 
 indeed sometimes too much, to go to 
 school twice a day, and learn the lessons 
 set for him by his kind tutoress ; on the 
 contrary, Joseph considered he could 
 never learn too much, so that there was a 
 striking difference between the brothers. 
 
 Their father, John Grant, was a sober 
 man, and one of those that agreed with 
 the proverb of idleness being the root of 
 all evil; when his labour for those that 
 employed him was done for the day, he 
 
8 
 
 THE COTTAGE 
 
 hastened home, and busied himself in 
 repairing his dwelling, or working in his 
 neat little garden, which was the admira- 
 tion of many of his poor neighbours, 
 some of wham were wicked enough to 
 envy him, though they each might have 
 had one as good, had not they been too 
 idle to follow his example. 
 
 From cheerful labor pleasure springs, 
 Because it health and plenty brings. 
 
 John Grant was happy in a wife of 
 the same industrious temper as himself; 
 she could wash, iron, brew, and bake, in 
 the best manner, and was therefore often 
 in the employ of her richer neighbours; 
 thus this honest pair were able to pro- 
 vide for themselves and children, in a 
 decent and becoming manner, without 
 being a burthen to any one. 
 
 They loved their children, treating 
 them all in the same manner with respect 
 to food and raiment, and those pleasing 
 
GARDEN. 
 
 9 
 
 attentions that are shewn by fond parent^, 
 yet little Joseph was their pride; he 
 took much delight in his book, he could 
 say all his letters, and repeat the prayers 
 his good mother taught him, while yet 
 in infant age, improving daily, and still 
 thirsting after knowledge. 
 
 All the half-pence that were given to 
 Charles were spent the next moment in 
 cakes, sugar-plums, and foolish toys; it 
 was very rare his brother ever indulged 
 in such things, if he had to pm chase 
 them himself; no, he saved up his half- 
 pence till it came to a certain sum, and 
 bought books with the money, and a 
 
 'v. s b5 la 
 
10 THE COTTAGE 
 
 slate, with pencils, and several other 
 articles of a nature highly useful to a 
 boy who made learning his delight. 
 
 His father was so kind at to make him 
 a little trunk, and had a lock and key for 
 it, that he might keep those things toge- 
 ther, which he did in the most tidy man- 
 ner that was possible. 
 
 Charles was not of a temper to join in 
 the same pursuits as 
 
 was not a bad boy; for though a little 
 wild and unruly at play, he hated vice, 
 told truth, and obeyed his parents. 
 
 Joseph was one of those who have a 
 heart to feel for the wants of others, and 
 not think only of pleasing themselves; 
 he saw many children, belonging to the 
 village, who did not know one letter from 
 another; not that they were dunces, but 
 their parents could not afford to send 
 them to school, and I was such a remote 
 place that they had not the blessing of a 
 charity, nor even a sunday-school among 
 f 
 
GARDEN. 
 
 11 
 
 them : and Joseph's first wish was to be 
 their tutor, and relieve them as much as 
 lay in his power from such a dreadful 
 state of ignorance. 
 
 Joseph thought, and wisely too, that 
 before he could teach others, he must 
 learn himself; he therefore applied most 
 diligently to his books, and often, when 
 he met with any hard word, or sentence 
 he could not comprehend, when he was 
 reading at home, he would carefully 
 mark the place, and when he went the 
 next day to school, politely ask his go- 
 verness to explain its meaning, which 
 
12 THE COTTAGE 
 
 she kindly did, and was much pleased 
 with her little scholar, and often reward- 
 ed his attention to learning with a nice 
 book or pleasing picture, for which he 
 was always truly grateful, and strove to 
 deserve a continuance of her favors. 
 
 Thus past three years, and Joseph was 
 enteritis on his seventh year, when he be- 
 gan to carry his favorite plan into execu- 
 tion. It was now the beginning of a very 
 fine spring, and Joseph chose the arbour 
 of the cottage garden to assemble his 
 pupils in, as he might not litter or dirty 
 his mother's rooms; he invited several of 
 his little play-fellows to spend their lei- 
 sure hours with him, and amuse them- 
 selves in a manner that might do good. 
 «« Nothing can be better," said the good 
 boy, "than to play at school keeping; I 
 will be the master, and teach you to 
 read, but mind me, yon must behave the 
 same as if you was at a real school, and 
 not make a mock of v\ hat i say, for it u 
 
GARDEN. 
 
 IS 
 
 very wicked to jeer those who try to do 
 you good, and to give up their time for 
 your benefit " 
 
 Among the village children were seven 
 who heard Joseph's kind proposition 
 with joy, and promised to mind ail he 
 said to them. 
 
 They met at half-past five every even- 
 ing, and spent two hours at their books; 
 they then played on the green till eight 
 o'clock, at which time they regularly re- 
 turned to their own homes, and eat their 
 homely meal; alter this, according to 
 the advice of their tutor, they sang the 
 
14 THE COTTAGE 
 
 evening hymn, then kneeling down, said 
 their prayers, kissed their fond parents, 
 and retired to bed, to enjoy the peaceful 
 slumbers that await on innocence and 
 piety. 
 
 Charles and his play-fellows were often 
 so rude as to make game of Joseph and 
 his little party, and try to make them 
 leave their quiet and useful way of pass- 
 ing their time, but their efforts were 
 vain: and such was the credit Joseph's 
 free-school obtained, that he had a great 
 increase of little visitors, who were all 
 ea<*er to learn what he was able to teach; 
 and he was now, in reality, become very 
 clever, for by his laudable endeavors to 
 improve others, he improved himself, 
 and impressed on his mind every useful 
 lesson by frequent repetition. 
 
 The parents of the children did not 
 suppose, from the early age of Joseph, 
 that their little ones could receive much 
 benefit from his instructions, but they 
 
let them meet together, for they thought 
 it a good way of spending their time, 
 and keeping them out of mischief, which 
 often occurs from rude play, and they 
 kept their clothes clean and tidy; but 
 when they heard them sing their hymns, 
 say their prayers, and read their little 
 books, they were truly delighted, and 
 their kind instructor often received a 
 present of fruit, cakes, and things of a 
 similar nature, when these poor people 
 could spare them, as a tribute of their 
 love and thanks to the infant tutor of 
 their dear children, many of whom were 
 much older than himself. 
 
16 
 
 THE COTTAGE 
 
 Autumn now was passed away, and 
 cold winter presided; Joseph grew dull, 
 and tears were often seen to roll down 
 his youthful cheeks. 
 
 His parents tenderly enquired the 
 cause, and the little boy, who always 
 spoke truth, and gave frank answers, 
 when asked a question, said he was sorry 
 to be deprived of the very pleasing man- 
 ner in which himself and his young 
 friends had, for so many months, spent 
 their evenings, as it was not possible for 
 them to continue their meetings in the 
 arbour, now the weather was so cold. 
 
 "To be sure you cannot," said his fa- 
 ther, " for if the weather was not against 
 you, the dark nights would prevent you 
 receiving any benefit from your books 
 and slates, (for the latter had been lately 
 added to their evening studies) but, as 
 you are so good and dutiful a child, your 
 mother and myself have agreed to let 
 your young friends came to the cottage 
 
GARDEN. 
 
 17 
 
 for an hour every evening, during the 
 working days of the week, and on the 
 holy sabbath, we will allow you three 
 hours for reading the scriptures, prayers, 
 and hymns; for we should be very sorry 
 to hinder you from going on in the good 
 path you have chosen ." Joseph^was ti;uly 
 grateful for this kindness, and gave both 
 his parents a tender kiss. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Grant had seen with re- 
 gret that Charles neYer joined in the 
 meetings of Joseph and his good little 
 friends, but too often made rude remarks 
 on the manner in which they passed their 
 
18 
 
 THE COTTAGE 
 
 time; not considering that there was no 
 one among them, but were far better at 
 their learning than himself, for they 
 wisely employed themselves many an 
 hour, while Charles and his companions 
 were at hoop, peg-top, or trap and ball, 
 with a set of rude boys. 
 
 When the weather did not allow him 
 to go out, he still refused to join in the 
 pursuits of his brother; and would sit 
 silent and sullen in a corner, till the 
 children were gone, when he would be- 
 gin some kind of play or other, as Joseph 
 would then join with him cheerfully, for 
 he never was against innocent diversion 
 at proper times, and he reckoned that to 
 be when he had done :he duties required 
 of him. 
 
 As Joseph grew in years he grew in 
 grace and good works, and his good 
 parents still allowed him the liberty of 
 having his young friends there in the 
 evening; in the arbour, during the sum 
 
GARDEN. 
 
 19 
 
 mer months, and the rest of the year 
 round their cheerful cottage fire. 
 
 Charles, in his fourteenth year was 
 bound apprentice to a shoe-maker: for 
 his careful parents being willing to give 
 each of their children a trade, a blessing 
 of which they themselves had known the 
 want, had, by putting by small sums, 
 saved up sufficient to give the required 
 fee, which, happily for them, was but 
 small. He proved an honest faithful ser- 
 vant, but the little attention he had paid 
 to learning, prevented him from being so 
 serviceable to his master, as he might 
 
so 
 
 THE COTTAGE 
 
 otherwise have been, and hindered him- 
 self from getting forward in the world ; 
 and he often regretted he had not fol- 
 lowed the example of his brother, as 
 Maria had done, and was now a very 
 clever little girl. 
 
 The good Joseph met with his reward. 
 It chanced one Sunday evening, as he 
 was reading to his little friends a chapter 
 in the bible, and his own parents and se- 
 veral of the neighbours were assembled, 
 hearing him, (for these were good peo- 
 ple, who loved to spend their sabbath 
 piously, and delighted in seeing the early 
 piety of their children ) the squire, whose 
 name was Belford, and his lady, came 
 to the door, and having staid some time 
 unperceived, they entered the cottage. 
 
 " Bless me, John Grant/' said Mr. 
 Belford, ""do you keep a sunday-school 
 here u No, your honor, though our 
 meetings are not much unlike one." 
 This produced more questions; and 
 
GARDEN 
 
 21 
 
 John Grant related to Mr. Belforcl the 
 history of his son's progress in, and his 
 great desire of learning, and also how 
 he had delighted in teaching the poorer 
 sort of children what he knew, even from 
 early infancy. This account pleased and 
 surprised the squire and his lady: chance 
 had brought them to the cottage, for the 
 night was dark, and Mrs. Belford was 
 afraid of going up the lane that leads to 
 the manor-house, without a light. 
 
 John Grant worked in the grounds, and 
 they came to ask him to walk before them 
 with a lantern and candle — a very lucky 
 
22 
 
 THE COTTAGE 
 
 event for Joseph: for they took such a 
 fancy to him, that they were at the ex- 
 peace of giving him an excellent educa- 
 tion, and maintaining him till he was old 
 enough to be usher in a school, where he 
 behaved so well, that his master, dying, 
 left him the whole concern ; and he new- 
 lives in great repute. His sister Maria 
 keeps his house; and he also allows his 
 aged parents a handsome sum every year, 
 to make their latter days happy ; to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Belford he is the most grateful 
 of human beings, and they love him al- 
 most as well as if he was their own son. 
 
 They also made his parents a present 
 of a cow, and two very fine sheep, with 
 liberty to feed them in their park (for it 
 was not filled with useless game) as long 
 as they lived, as a reward for their 
 diligence, virtue, sobriety, and honesty; 
 and the sheep being of a particular 
 valuable breed (see the frontispiece) the 
 produce of them alone, after the first 
 
GARDEN. 
 
 23 
 
 two or three years, were equal to the 
 whole of their labour.— Thus, my little 
 readers, is the proverbs of Solomon 
 verified, that — "A good son is a crown 
 of glory, to his parents/' 
 
 % FINIS | 
 
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